EXETER, New Hampshire — Former President Donald Trump made history Tuesday night, receiving the highest number of raw votes in the history of New Hampshire’s first primary.
Trump had more than 172,000 votes with 95% of estimated votes counted as of Wednesday afternoon, beating former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley by more than 35,000 votes.
The raw vote record was previously held by Sen. Socialist Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who received 152,193 votes in defeating Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary — sparked a months-long race that stretched into early June.
Trump, 77, also held the previous record for the most votes received by a Republican primary winner, garnering 129,734 votes in 2020 against opposition from former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld.
Haley’s total of more than 137,000 raw votes was the most by a second-place finisher, and was enough to win every other GOP contest in the modern primary era, which dates back to 1952.
With Tuesday’s victory, Trump became the first non-incumbent Republican presidential candidate to win both the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary.
Live election results from New Hampshire
Turnout for New Hampshire’s Republican primary also broke records, with more than 318,000 people casting ballots – well above the previous high of around 287,000 set in 2016.
Polling station volunteers told The Post throughout Tuesday that they saw “very high” turnout. The parking lot was full and voters lined up to vote for one of the two primary candidates in the Republican field.
The Trump camp appeared to be concerned about turnout ahead of the primary, making “hundreds of thousands” of calls across the state, spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told The Post at campaign headquarters in Manchester over the weekend.
President Donald Trump waves to supporters as he arrives at a campaign stop in Londonderry, NH, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. AP Trump supporters gather during a keynote party at the Sheraton on Jan. 23, 2024, in Nashua, New Hampshire. Getty Images Trump has more than 172,000 votes with 95% of the estimated votes counted as of Wednesday afternoon. AFP via Getty Images
The former president also asked his voters to go to the polls because “margins matter” and a high level of support would show “unity” in the GOP.
Haley’s campaign also urged voters to cast their ballots to get past Trump. The former ambassador to the United Nations has vowed to continue his bid in 2024 despite finishing third in Iowa and second in New Hampshire.
He next focused on South Carolina, his home state, where he aims to win again in the February 24 primary.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
